Remote-control system



Oct. 14, 1930. w. H. T. HOLDEN REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Oct. 11

Y INVENTOR WZe// fi A TTORNE Y Fatenteel @et M, 193@ WLLIAlt/L H. T.'HOLDEN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSI-G'NOR T0 AMERICAN TELE- PHONE ANDTELEGRAPH COMPANY, A CORPGRATION GF NEW YORK REMOTE-CONTROL SYSTEMApplication led October 11, 1924.

This invention relates to remote control devices and particularly to adevice of that type in which a signal is produced at the sending orcontrol station upon the response of the cont-rolled apparatus at thedistant station to the .transmission of an operating impulse from thecontrol station.

lin the operation of remote control systems it is desirable that theoperator at the controlling station shall know that the controlledapparatus at thejdistant station has properly operated in accordancewith the transmission ot an impulse or a series of impulses from Vthecontrolling station. lt is one of the objects or" this invention toprovide a method and means for indicating at the controlling station theoperation of the controlled apparatus at the distant station.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for insuringsynchronism between the controlled station and the indicating apparatusat the controlling station.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the followingdescription when read in connection with the attached drawing,

showing schematically a simple form of embodiment oit the invention.

ln the drawing, the key l at the controlling station is intended tocontrol the operation ot the apparatus at the distant receiving station.The relays 2 and 3 serve to prevent the apparatus at both stations fromget-ting out oi synchronism and also to prevent a short circuit in theevent that the control key 1 is thrown rapidly from one position to theother before a releasing impulse has been sent back from the distantstation. Relays 2 and 3 are marginal in the sen-e that each operatesprior to the energization ot' its corresponding magnet 4 or 5 of theindicating device in order to prevent the indicating device from gettingout otsynchronism with the controlled device at the distant end. Themagnets et and 5,

which derive their power from the batteries 6 and 7 serve to raise orlower the indicator` 8 in response to the operation of the controlledapparatus at the distant station. When, for example, the magnet 4 isenergized to such extent as to overcome the pressure of the spring 37upon the armature 33,*which cooperates with Serial No. 743,17.

one group ot notches of the indicator' 8, the armature 33 will be raisedand will be caused to engage the notch just above the one with which itis shown in co-action in the drawing. As soon as the magnet et isdeenergized the pressure of the spring 37 will cause the armature tomove downward, and this in turn will cause movement'ot the indicator ina counterclockwise direction. rEhe magnet 5 cooperates with its armature34 in the same manner and effects the movement of the indicator 8 in aclockwise direction. T he tongue of the polar relay 9 moves between thecontacts 1G and 11. Contact 10 is connected with the winding of themagnet 12, to move the drum switch in one direction, by the attract-ionof the armature a2 by the magnet 12, which armature is rigidly connectedwith the shaft l1 of the drumsWitch, and in like manner contact 11controls magnet 13, to move the drum-switch in the opposite direction.Both magnets are of the slow-release type. The drum-switch is providedwith springsl and 44 connected with an arm of the shaft 41, whichsprings, when the magnets are deenergized, restore the switch to whatmay be termed its normal midposition. A plurality ot wipers or brushes,designated a to inclusive, are so adjusted as to engage thecorrespondingly positioned segi ments of the drum-switch. The magnets 14and 15 which are controlled by the drumswitch, have armatures 35 and 36with which the springs 39 and H'l0 respectively cooperate, and areintended to raise or lower respective ly. the controlling device 16,which operates the apparatus to be controlled at the receiving station.The device 1,6 has connected therewith a toothed segment 17. with whicha roller 18 engages. This roller is connected with a spring 19 whichengages another spring 2() at the contact 2l; whenever this Contact isopened the indicating device at the sending station is operated.

The manner in which this system operates in order to attain the objectof this invention is as follows: liet it be assumed that it is desiredto raise the controlled device 16 or, in other words, to rotate itsshaft in a clockwise direction. The key 1 at the send- "ard, closing itsconv50 tact 22. A circuit is thereby established eX- tending fromcontact 22, over conductor 23, winding of polar relay 9, conductor 31,contact 21 of springs 20 and 19, conductors 30 and 24, battery 6,winding of indicator magnet 4, conductor 25, left-hand contact of relay3, winding of relay 2, to Contact 22. The polar relay 9 will beenergized, and its tongue will be moved upwards, closing its contact10.. Although the circuit through the indicator magnet 4 is closed, thecurrent is insufficient to operate it. However, as soon as contact 10 isclosed a circuit in parallel with the polar relay 9 will be establishedfrom Contact 10, through the Winding of magnet 12, brush I, segments Band C, brush c, conductor 31, contact 21, concluetors30 and 24. Thisshuntl path will increase the current from the hattery 6, through. thewinding of the indicator magnet 4, which will cause the indicator magnetto lift its armature 33l into co-action with the notch just a-bove Vtheone with which it is shown in co-action in the drawing. This, however,will not move the indicator 8, because its operation depends upon theinterruption of this current. The energization of the drum-switch magnet12 moves the drum in the direction which will bring the brushes incontact with the upper segments A, B designated raise and break contactbetween the brush c and the segment C. Since segment A is conductivelyconnected with segment B a circuit will be established from battery 6,through the indicator magnet 4, conductor 25, left-hand contact of relay3, winding of relay 2, right-hand conta'ct of relay 2, conductor 23,contact 10 of relay 9, the winding of the magnet 12, brush b, segments'1B and A, brush a, conductor 28, the windingV of magnet 14, conductor29, brush d, segments D and E, brush c, conductors- 30 and 24 to theopposite pole of battery 6.l Under this circuit condition the controlmagnet 14 at'the receiving station is energized and the control device16 is moved upward. The motion of this device causes the roller 18 tomove one notch. In doing so. contact 21 is opened, which opens thecircuitthrough the winding of polar relay 9, which 1s 1n parallel withthe circuit that includes the magnets 12 and 14. The opening of thecircuit through the winding of relay 9 reduces the current flowing fromthe source 6 through the, indicator magnet 4 to such extentthat the saldmagnet releases. This causes the indicator Sito 'be moved in acounter-clockwise direction due to the pressure of the spring'37 on thearmature 33, thereby signifying to thc operator at the controlling orsending station that the controlled apparatus at the receiving stationhas operated. The opening of contact 21 also releases relay 2 whichopens its right-hand contact by means of which it was locked u after theinitial closing of the Contact 22 o the control key 1. Thelopening ofthe circuit of relay 9, resulting from the opening of contact 21, inturn opens the circuit of the drum-switch magnet 12. The armature 42will therefore be .released and the switch will be restored to itsnormal position by the action of the springs 43-44 The v system istherefore restored to its normal position for the transmission ofanother impulse from the control key. If this key is held closed in theposition designated raise it will transmit but a single impulse untilthe controlled,apparatus operates and opens the circuit. Then; anothersingle impulsew-ill be sent and the same sequence of operations willtake place, the control device 16 being rotated another notch in aclockwise direction. In the lowering of the control device 16 or therotation of its shaft in counter-clockwise direction is effected in asimilar manner except that the key 1 is moved downward to close itscontact 32. The closing of contact 32 establishes a circuit thatincludes not only the polar relay 9 but also the battery 7, theindicator magnet 5 and the relay 3. Since the polarity of battery 7 isopposite that of 6, the relay 9 will be moved in the opposite directionand will close the circuit that includes the drum-switch magnet 13. Thiswill attract the armature 42 which will move the switch so that thecontacts engage the lower segments thereof. A circuit will therefore beestablished through the segments H and I and also the segments E and F',whereby the control magnet 15 will .be energized and the impulse will besent back and'sends a pulse of current through the.

indicator motor magnets suflicient to cause these to step. Relays 2 and3, as stated before. are marginal in that each operates prior to theenergization o f its corresponding magnet 4 or 5 that is connected inseries with its corresponding relay upon the closing of the key 1. Relay2, for example, operates substantiallyas soon as the contact 22 isclosedby the movement of the key 1, whereas its corresponding magnet 4does not become energized sufficiently to attract its armature and thusperform the first step of itsl operation, until relayt) has operated andestablished a shunt path through the contacts b and c of the drumswitch. The operation of relay 2 locks the circuit containing theindicator magnet and maintains it in locked condition, regardless ofsubsequent movements of the key 1, until the actuation of the -conmesma'trolled apparatus opens the circuit at the pulsing springs and, by thedeenergization of the indicator magnet 4, produces an indication ot' theactuation of the said controlled apparatus. As soon as the currentthrough the circuit of relays 2 and 3 has reached a value sufficientlyhigh to 0perate either of the motor magnets, depending upon which waythe key has been thrown, the proper relay will pull up and lock itselfup until the tirst interruption trom the pulsing springs 19 and 20occurs. Then, the relay is released.` An additional set of springs oneach of these relays prevents a short circuit in the event that thecontrol key has been thrown rapidly from one position to the otherbefore the releasing pulse has been sent back from the distant end. Theimportance of this will be apparent if the left hand contacts of therelays 2 and 3 are considered as eliminated from the circuit. `When thekey 1 is raised and closes its contact 22, relay 2 closes its right handcontact and it remains closed until the open circuit impulse istransmitted `upon the opening of contact 2i. If the key were moved toits lower position, thus closing contact 32 before relay 2 has beendeenergized by the opening ot contact 2l, a circuit would be establishedfrom, say, the positive pole of battery 6 that will include the windingof magnet 4, conductor 25, winding of relay 2, contact 32, Winding ofrelay 3, magnet 5, to the negative pole of battery 7. Since the relays 2and 3 and the magnets 4 and 5 are of relativelylow resistance an eX-cessive current would flow that might damage the windings of the magnetsor the relays. The presence of the lett hand contacts of relays 2 and 3prevents the closing of the circuit through one oil the relays 2 and 3after the circuit has been closed through the other until the openedcircuit impulse has been transmitted by the opening of Contact 2l.

While this invention has been disclosed as embodied in a particular formit is to 'be understood that it is capable of embodiment in other anddifi'erent forms without departing from the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

`What is claimed is:

l. ln a remote control system, the combination with a source of.potential of a relay, an,

indicating device, means for operating the indicating device including amagnet and means actuated on the energization and-then thedeenergization of the magnet to operate the device, a circuit includingthe source, relay and .the magnet, a key for closing said circuit,

the resistance of Said circuit being such that the relay willbeeffectively energized while the magnet Will not be effectively energizedupon the t sing of the key, a rotary nswitch including all. operatingmagnet therefor controlled by the relay, contacts connected with theswitch an'associated with said circuit to shunt the relay and therebycause the effective energization of the magnet, a magneticallycontrolled device connected with said rotary switch and responsive tothe operation of said relay and rotary switch, and means controlled bythe controlled device to deenergize the magnet of the indicating deviceand thereby cause the operation of the indieating device.

2. In a remote control system, the combination with sources of potentialofopposite polarity of an indicating device including an indicator andtwo magnets, each having means actuated upon the energization and thenthe deenergization of said magnet to operate the indicator, thedirection of operation of one magnet being opposite to that of theother, a key having a movable arm and two contact points, a polar relay,a circuit including one of said sources, one of said indicator magnets,one of the contact points and the movable arm of the said key and thewinding ofthe said polar relay, another circuit including the othersource, the' other indicator magnet, the other Contact point and themovable arm, and the winding of the said polar relay, means controlledby the said polar relay to shunt the winding thereof, the resistance ofthe shunt path being such as to increase the current through anindicator magnet suficiently to cause its operation, and meanscontrolled by the said shunting means to diminish the current throughthe said magnet to release the means actuated by the said magnet,thereby effecting a movement of said indicator.

3.' ln a remote control system, the combination with sources ofpotential of opposite polarity of an indicating device including anindicator, and two magnets, each, having means actuated upon theenergization and then the deenergization of said magnet to operate theindicator, the direction of operation ot one magnet being opposite tothat ot the other, a key having a movable arm and two ontact points, apolar relay, two control rclays, a circuit including one of saidsources, a winding of one of said magnets, the winding of the polarrelay, one contact point and the arm of the said key, the armature andcontact of the first control relay and the winding of the second,another circuit including the other source, the winding of the otherindicator magnet, the winding of the polar relay, the other contactpoint and the armature ot the said key. the Winding of the said firstrelay and the armature and contact of the said second relay, meanscontrolled by thesaid polar relay to shunt the winding thereof toincrease the current through an indicator magnet suiiiciently to operateit, means controlled by the shunting means to diminish the currentthrough the said magnet to release the means actuated by the saidmagnet, thereby efecting a movement of said indicator, the said controlrelays having their contacts so arranged that the o 4eration of onerelay opens the `circuit of t e other relay and maintains it open untilthe indicating device'connected with the circuit of the first mentionedrelay operates.

4. In' a remote control system, the combination with a source 'ofpotential of an indicating device comprising a magnet, an indicator,means responsive to the energization and then the deenergization of thesaid magv net to operate the said indicator, a relay, a

switch, a circuit including thesaid source, the winding of the saidmagnet, the winding of the said relay and .the said switch, atranslating circuit having means responsive to the operation of the saidrelay to shunt the winding of the said-relayfwhenever the latter op.erates', the resistance of the said translating circuit in arallel withthe winding of the said relay eing such as to increase the currentthrough the indicating magnet to such extent as to cause nits operation,and means responsive to the operation of the translating means -t'oeffectively reduce the current through the said magnet to such extentlas'to release the means 'actuated by the said ma net, thereby effectinga movement of sald indicator.

In testimony whereof, I have signed .my name to this specicaton this 9thday of October, 1924. V

- v WILLIAM H. T. HOLDEN.

